Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Security concerns resurface in Parliament

In Summary

The debate started when Masoud Abdalla Salim (Mtambili-CUF) sought to know the government’s position on the increasing cases of abduction of people, including six who disappeared mysteriously in Zanzibar recently.

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By The Citizen Reporter @TheCititozenTz news@tz.nationmedia.com

Dodoma. Members of Parliament from the ruling party and their opposition counterparts were involved in a fierce debate on violation of human rights, which include disappearance of people.

The debate started when Masoud Abdalla Salim (Mtambili-CUF) sought to know the government’s position on the increasing cases of abduction of people, including six who disappeared mysteriously in Zanzibar recently.

He was debating a budget speech by Minister of State in President’s Office (Public Service and Good Governance), Mr George Mkuchika on Monday.

Mr Salim said he was ready to give the minister the registration number of the car that was used to abduct the people.

He wanted the House to debate the issue due to its sensitivity.

However, Mr Salim was booed by lawmakers from the ruling party, who constitute the majority in the House.

Kinondoni MP Maulid Mtulia (CCM) played down Mr Salim’s allegations.

“The government has always treated security issues sensitively as far as I am concerned…Mr Salim claims that he has registration number of the car which was used during the abduction, how can we prove it?” queried Mr Mtulia.

Lucy Magereli (Special Seat-Chadema) as well as Julius Kalanga (Monduli-Chadema) threw their support to Mr Salim.

Mr Kalanga argued that even Nape Nnauye (Mtama-CCM) had a gun pointed at him by a man suspected to be from Tanzania Intelligence and Security Services (TISS).

Debating the speech, the minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Charles Tizeba, claimed that in 2002 they were victims of robbery in Karagwe by people who were dressed in police uniforms.

Responding, Mr Mkuchika defended the intelligence services, saying they were responsible for collecting information and not arresting people.